Labour issues to the fore at CPI(M)’s ‘Prajarakshana Bheri’ in Vijayawada

Thousands of people from across Andhra Pradesh attended the 'Prajarakshana Bheri' organised by the CPI(M) to highlight issues plaguing contract employees, Anganwadi workers, and agricultural labourers. They sought regularisation of jobs, wage hikes, and access to welfare schemes. Traffic congestion was reported due to the large turnout.

Thousands of people came to the city from across the State in lorries and jeeps to take part in the ‘Prajarakshana Bheri’, organised by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on November 15 (Wednesday).

A group of five people from Narasaraopet in Palnadu district said they came to the meeting to highlight issues plaguing contract employees of the municipalities and corporations.

“Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had said he would regularise the jobs of municipal contract workers immediately after coming to power. But five years have passed, and we are still waiting to be heard,” they said.

If their services are regularised, they will get ₹26,000 a month as against ₹15,000 that they get now. Now, after deductions, their take-home pay is just about ₹13,000.

One of them, P. Mose, 52, who has been working as a municipal contract employee in the town for nearly 30 years, said: “We are allowed to take two leaves in a month. If we avail even one more day of leave, we lose ₹700 per day. If we lose our lives while in service, our children will not be given jobs on compassionate grounds because we are contract employees.”

He added that they were threatened with dismissal from service if they raised their voice. Out of 400 contract workers at Narasaraopet, 200 had come to the meeting after taking permission from higher-ups, they said.

A group of 50 municipal contract workers came from Proddatur in YSR district with similar issues. They said they are ineligible for any of the government’s welfare schemes including Amma Vodi.